7/14 First Blues game and first AFL game

Yesterday afternoon I played with the Monash Blues U19 footy team after going to just the one practice two days earlier. The game was at a field here at Monash at 2 pm against St. Marys Salesian. Some of their players got stuck in traffic so we moved the start time back to 2:30, and even then they were a few players short until some more players arrived in the first quarter. We had 4 players on the bench which gave us a big advantage until more of their guys showed up. The weather was pretty chilly but sunny before the game, but at 2 it started raining lightly. Luckily it stopped raining before the game started and it did not rain again, although it got very cold. I spent most of the first half shivering on the bench until I went into the game with 10 minutes left in the half. My team had worked up a big lead to start because they were playing without a full 18 players, and we went into half time with a decent lead. I played all of the third quarter and the first ten minutes of the fourth quarter before coming out of the game. In that time I managed to get 2 marks, and pick up a few loose balls, but I had a negligible impact on the game. I played at forward pocket, which kept me safely away from most of the action. Unfortunately we managed to blow most of the lead in that time, but we managed to hold the lead and close it out with a goal to win 12.12-84 to 10.15-75.

After the game I went back to my hall to get ready to leave for the MCG. I had a ticket to see Collingwood play Geelong at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). I took the bus and train to get there, where I rode with another Monash student who was going to the game. We ended up running the last few blocks and through the stadium to try to get there before the first bounce. I saw the first bounce as I was a few sections from my seat, so I missed the first minute as I made my way to my seat, which was in the first row of the fourth level. The seats were pretty good except the railing was directly in front of me and blocked my view when the ball came to the close corner of field, requiring me to lean forward or backward to see the action. Collingwood jumped out to a huge lead in the first quarter and held it for the rest of the game. Even though the game wasn't close, it was great fun to see my Pies embarrass the Cats at my first AFL game. It was raining for most of the game, but luckily the overhang of the stadium kept me dry, although I did get soaked while waiting for the train and walking from the bus stop to my hall after the game.